The Christmas Spectacular at Great Yarmouth Hippodrome boasts an international cast of circus stars, plus the debut of street performer tuurned upcoming comedy star Hugh Miro and talented local dancers.
The Christmas Spectacular returns to Great Yarmouth Hippodrome this weekend packed again with festive fun, thrills and excitement as it celebrates 17 years of phenomenally success.
Once again the fast-moving dynamic show boasts an array of international artists who have come from all over the world, travelling more than 24,900 miles to get to Great Yarmouth.
The line-up boasts the Globe of Death with the daredevil motorbike riders direct from Chile and Argentina, and the breathtaking Wheel of Death from Bulgaria and Moldova, two of the world's most popular circus acts.
Other performers set to amaze include Antonio Candella a fire breather from Rome, a Columbian Teeterboard act, British trapeze sensation Caroline and amazing aerialist Simona from Bucharest.
This Christmas the show will also hand a debut to a new comedy character that seems destined for huge things in the future.
Hugo Miro will be making his first ever appearance at the Hippodrome Circus — one of the last remaining circus buildings in the UK — and it's quite a leap from his last UK appearance on the main performance square of Covent Garden in London.
He was spotted there whilst honing his skills as he prepared for his own one man show that will tour Europe next year.
Although unknown in the UK Hugo has made various high profile appearances in his home country of Spain and extremely excited to perform at the Hippodrome.
'The Hippodrome Circus is known the world over as one of the best productions to perform in, with great crowds and a world class show, to be a part of the amazing history that includes Houdini in the past is amazing,' he said.
The show's producer and popular host Jack Jay has very high hopes for Hugo. 'He is exactly what we look for in a performer for our shows, a unique talent that brings something our audience hasn't seen before,' he said. 'He is a top class performer combining hilarious silent comedy with dance and impressive juggling skills.'
The Hippodrome has a proven track record for finding the next generation of top talent, with several of their acts from the last few years appearing on ITV's Britain's Got Talent.
Hippodrome artistic curator Peter Jay believes this shows just how high the standard is at the 1903-built circus building.
He said: 'We have always said that this show is the only place this side of Las Vegas that you can witness this calibre of talent so it's no surprise to me that many talent scouts from across the world have come here to see act. In the last few years alone our acts have gone on to star in shows for Cirque Du Solei, the world's biggest circus company, alongside headlining shows in Vegas itself.'
The curious character of Hugo Miro will join a cast that also includes dancers, swimmers, acrobats and a large children's group from Dance Estelle.
Each Christmas the students from Dance Estelle, the dance school based at The Hippodrome, get the chance to appear in the show and this year joining the 75 strong group are these 10 excited youngsters who will be making their first ever appearance.
Dance Estelle's principle Estelle Clifton explained how much it means to the students: 'It's an amazing opportunity for these young dancers to appear in a world class show and they are all super excited, some of these kids are as young as six-years-old so you can imagine how nervous they are!'
Tamara Bustos, one of the Hippodrome's dancers and swimmers, and also a teacher at Dance Estelle, remembers her first season as a student too. 'I can remember how scared and excited I was when I first danced here as a student aged only eight. I loved it so much that I continued on and got the chance to become a professional dancer here. It really is a dream come true.'
Jack Jay added: 'It's wonderful to see the latest group of dancers getting ready for the new season, they could represent the next generation of performers and who knows what they could go on to achieve, this year Tamara featured on our new poster and she began just like these young students.'
Of course, no Hippodrome spectacular would be complete without the legendary Water Spectacular and it again provides the finale for this festive spectacular.
Peter Jay said: 'This is by far the strongest Christmas Show we have ever had and we have smashed the record for advance bookings by nearly 40% it's going to be a great Christmas and another amazing show.'
• Christmas Spectacular, Hippodrome, Great Yarmouth, December 9-January 7, £23-£19 (£18-£15 cons), £15-£11 children, discounts for families, VIP tickets available, 01493 844172, hippodromecircus.co.uk
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